{"id":1004675494,"date":"2023-08-08T03:46:13","date_gmt":"2023-08-08T11:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/?p=1004675494"},"modified":"2023-08-08T05:36:21","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T13:36:21","slug":"new-york-state-agency-inks-hq-lease-in-manhattan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/new-york-state-agency-inks-hq-lease-in-manhattan\/","title":{"rendered":"NY State Agency Takes 117 KSF for Manhattan Digs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Empire<\/a>

Empire State Development has leased five full floors at 655 Third Ave. in Midtown Manhattan. Image courtesy of The Durst Organization<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Empire State Development<\/strong>, New York State\u2019s economic development and financing agency, has leased five full floors totaling 117,181 square feet at 655 Third Ave. in Midtown Manhattan. The Durst Organization<\/strong>, the building\u2019s owner, announced the transaction.<\/p>\n

The deal, for what will be ESD\u2019s New York City headquarters, reportedly is one of the largest new leases in Midtown this year. The agency\u2019s offices will occupy all of floors two through six, comprising more than a quarter of the 30-story, 425,000-square-foot property.<\/p>\n

Designed by Emery Roth & Sons<\/strong> and completed in 1958, 655 Third Ave. earned LEED Gold certification in 2019. Its sustainability features include 4,775 square feet of green roofs and double-glazed windows that deflect glare and improve office comfort.<\/p>\n

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READ ALSO<\/strong>: The Tricky Task of Office-to-Residential Conversions<\/a><\/p>\n

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In a prepared statement, Jody Durst, president of The Durst Organization, referenced the building\u2019s \u201cunparalleled access to transit\u201d and other advantages.<\/p>\n

The Durst Organization was represented in house by Tom Bow, Ashlea Aaron and Bailey Caliban. Moshe Sukenik and Brian Cohen of Newmark<\/strong> and Joan Brothers of Manhattan Boutique Real Estate<\/strong> represented Empire State Development.<\/p>\n

ESD is New York State\u2019s chief economic development agency, with missions including to promote a growing economy and to encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities.<\/p>\n

Tough market<\/h2>\n

The Durst Organization reports that several of its properties along Third Avenue have seen strong leasing activity.<\/p>\n